Friday, July 22, 2011

Last night I saw a hospital consult, with the following admission note:

"On Saturday, while packing his car, he suddenly felt lightheaded, followed by right-sided weakness and slurred speech. He didn't seek medical attention at the time. In fact, he and his wife drove to Connecticut that day for a short vacation. All symptoms have since persisted, and upon returning to Grumpyville this afternoon they went home, unpacked, and then came to ER for evaluation."

Sounds like American Heart Association (or another health care group) could spend some money on an ad campaign about strokes. We have the posters up in the ER about 'every second counts' but that's not where those with risks hang out. Maybe posters in gas stations? Next to the snuff and the handsome Marlboro man? This problems of folks delaying treatment for brain injury because they're not aware enough to get help is a recurrent theme.

I have heard PSAs on my local radio about "every second counts" some SOMEone out there is trying to get the message out to the general public. Not sure it would've helped this guy--sounds like he was in denial

My aunt had a heart attack on a Thursday. She didn't know it was a heart attack - she just felt kind of crummy. She didn't go to the doc until Monday because she had made a commitment to volunteer at church on Saturday. Then she had to fight to get out of the hospital. She is a tough lady.

"Better late than never, but better never late", as my teacher used to say.(Or too late, I should add, because it will probably lead inexorably to 'never, never' and 'the late......').Must be stubborn as a rusty bolt......or just no insurance perhaps?

Welcome to my whining!

This blog is entirely for entertainment purposes. All posts about patients may be fictional, or be my experience, or were submitted by a reader, or any combination of the above. Factual statements may or may not be accurate.

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